U.S. patent number 4,976,653 [Application Number 07/318,900] was granted by the patent office on 1990-12-11 for maternity garment with two-position support band.
Invention is credited to Barbara E. White.
United States Patent |
4,976,653 |
White |
December 11, 1990 |
Maternity garment with two-position support band
Abstract
A maternity garment which provides extra support during bodily
activity, comprises an upper body section connected to a lower body
section and a continuous elastomeric band extending around the
lower body section. The band is connected to the garment by a hinge
member attached along one edge of the band and to the garment.
Thus, the band can be moved from a relatively low position on the
garment and the wearer to a relatively high position in order to
provide a range of support to accommodate different wearer sizes
and wearer activities.
Inventors: |
White; Barbara E. (San
Francisco, CA) |
Family
ID: |
23240039 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/318,900 |
Filed: |
March 3, 1989 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
450/155; 2/221;
2/237; 2/109; 2/236 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D
1/21 (20180101) |
Current International
Class: |
A41D
1/00 (20060101); A41D 1/20 (20060101); A41B
009/00 (); A41D 001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;2/73,76,78D,78R,104,109,115,217,220,221,236,237,243B,402,403,406
;450/155 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Schroeder; Werner H.
Assistant Examiner: Chapman; Jeanette E.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Owen, Wickersham & Erickson
Claims
I claim:
1. A garment adapted to be worn by a person to provide abdominal
support during bodily activity, said garment comprising:
an upper body section with front and back portions connected by
shoulder straps forming arm holes:
a lower body section connected to the upper body section having
front and back portions;
a continuous elastomeric band means extending completely around
said lower body section, said back portion of said lower body
section having an upper edge that is higher than an upper edge of
said front portion so that said upper edge of said back portion is
adapted to fit generally across a wearer's lumbar spine region,
while said upper edge of said front portion is adapted to fit
across the wearer's lower abdominal region, and having continuous
opposite edges, and hinge means attached along an edge of said band
means and to said upper edge of said lower body section to thereby
enable said band means to be moved from a relatively low position
on the garment to a relatively high position in order to provide a
range of abdominal support to accommodate different wearer sizes
and wearer activities.
2. The garment as described in claim 1 wherein said band means
comprises an outer cover of fabric material and an inner layer of
elastomeric belt material, one edge of said band means being
stitched to said garment.
3. The garment as described in claim 1 wherein said one edge of
said band means is stitched to edge portions of both said upper and
lower body sections, thereby forming said hinge means for said band
means.
Description
This invention relates to clothing apparel and more particularly to
a garment for pregnant women having a surrounding two-position band
for supporting a wearer's critical body regions during bodily
activity.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
During the normal term of pregnancy, most women desire to remain as
active as possible, despite the fact that their increasing size
tends to reduce mobility. As a woman's pregnancy progresses,
certain of her muscles and other body components become subject to
increased stress and fatigue and thus need additional support,
especially during exercise activity. For example, the abductor
muscles in the abdominal area and the thoraxes and lumbar spine in
the back area are particularly vulnerable to fatigue. However, it
has been found that if proper and adequate bodily support can be
provided a larger degree of comfortable mobility can be maintained
making it possible for a pregnant woman to exercise and move about
or even dance in a substantially improved manner.
A general object of the present invention is to provide a wearing
apparel for pregnant women that provides such a degree of support
for a wearer which lessens the stress on her muscles and thereby
allows her greater comfort and mobility.
Another object of the invention is to provide an article of
clothing for pregnant women which has a multi-muscle group
supporting band that can quickly be moved from one relatively low
position around the abductor muscles and lumbar spine area to
another higher position around the abdominal and thoraxes areas to
thereby afford two different degrees or types of support for
different bodily movements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the principles of the invention a one-piece
garment for pregnant women is provided having a lower pants section
with leg holes and an upper body section with shoulder straps
attached to a back portion that forms the garment arm holes.
Between these two sections is a continuous elastomeric band that is
located to fit generally around the wearer's waist, but more
specifically at an angle downwardly from the back of the wearer
towards her frontal abdominal area. The elastomeric band is
attached along one of its edges to the garment so that it can be
moved back and forth as on a hinge to be in either of two different
positions on the wearer's body. In a lower position with the band
turned downwardly, the band passes across the wearer's lumbar back
region and then forwardly and downwardly so that it fits well below
the wearer's abdomen. When desired, the wearer can turn or flip the
band to its upward position so that it supports the wearer's
thoraxes and frontal regions at a somewhat higher level. Thus, the
movable waist band allows the wearer a range of positions which
enable her to maintain maximum comfort and support for different
physical activities and conditions.
Other objects advantages and features of the invention will become
apparent from the following detailed description of one embodiment
thereof, presented in conjunction with the accompanying
drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a garment according to the
present invention as it appears with its movable waist band in the
down or lower position on a typical wearer.
FIG. 1A is a view in perspective similar to FIG. 1 showing the
garment according to the invention with its movable waist band in
the up or higher position.
FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation of the garment of FIGS. 1 and lA
showing the waist band in its down position with the up position
shown by a dotted line.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section showing the waist
band for the garment of FIGS. 1 and 2 according to the
invention.
Detailed Description of Embodiment
The present invention is particularly adaptable to a garment that
may be worn by pregnant women that naturally have an enlarged
abdomen and to a garment that provides a range of support as the
wearer is exercising. For example, during aerobic exercising or
dancing where bodily activity is at a relatively high level,
support for the wearer's enlarged abdomen is highly desireable, if
not necessary. Also, the most effective support may be required at
somewhat different locations for different conditions of the wearer
and for various forms of exercising activity.
With reference to the drawing, FIG. 1 shows a garment 10 embodying
principles of the present invention as it appears when worn by a
pregnant woman as represented typically. The garment has a lower
pants-like section 12 with leg holes 14 and a connected upper
section 16 with shoulder straps 18 that form arm holes 20. A
relatively broad waist band 22 is attached to the garment at a
location between the upper and lower sections.
In accordance with the invention, the band 22 is attached to the
garment so that it can assume a relatively low position, as shown
in FIG. 1 or a relatively high position, as shown in FIG. 1A. In
both positions the elastic band is stretched to fit under tension
around the wearer's trunk to provide support for different frontal
and back muscle groups. The capability of moving the band from its
lower to its upper positions enables the wearer to accommodate
different conditions due to the type of activity, the wearer's
particular figure, etc.
As shown best in FIG. 2, the band 22 in its lower position extends
across the wearer's back or lumbar spine region 24 and then
downwardly toward her lower frontal and abductor muscle region 26.
In its upper position, shown by the dotted line in FIG. 2 and in
FIG. 1A, the band 22 extends higher across the thoraxes region in
the wearer's back and also higher across the abdominal region to
support the abdominal muscles. This upper position may be more
comfortable and also more supportive for certain wearers during
their various bodily activities.
In general, the band 22 is attached to the garment 10 so that it is
relatively high across the back portion of the lower pants-like
section 12 and relatively low across the frontal portion of the
lower section. Thus, as shown in FIG. 2, the band 22 on the garment
extends forwardly and downwardly from the back region to the
frontal crotch area of the wearer, thereby enabling it to provide
support near the lower region of the wearer's abdomen.
The attachment of the band 22 to the garment 10 is shown in detail
in the enlarged sectional view of FIG. 3. In the embodiment
illustrated the band 22 is comprised of an outer member 28 of
elastomeric material such as a fabric having embedded elastomeric
strands or strips. This outer member extends around and is attached
to an enclosed strip 30 of elastomeric material such as a
rubberized belting material. The end edges 32 of the outer member
are brought together and extend between flange portions 34 and 36
of the lower and upper garment sections 12 and 16. The end edges 32
and the flange portions 34 and 36 are covered and stitched together
by thread material 38 that serves as a retaining means. Thus, as
seen in FIG. 3, the band 22 is fixed to the upper and lower garment
sections so that it can pivot from a lower position to an upper
position. The outer member 38 near its connection with the garment
sections 12 and 16 serves as a hinge-like means to facilitate the
upper to lower waist band movement.
From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides
a garment for pregnant women that enables a wearer to quickly and
easily adjust a supporting waist band to suit different conditions
of activity and changing physical characteristics. Although the
garment has been shown with a short lower pants section and a
sleeveless upper section, it should be apparent that various other
garment configurations could be used within the scope of the
invention.
The preferred embodiment described herein is intended to be purely
illustrative, and not limiting of the scope of the invention. Other
embodiments and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the
art and may be made without departing from the essence and scope of
the invention as defined in the following claims.
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